This Case Studies Series showcases approaches which were led by UN Women to channel financing toward gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) at the global, regional and national levels. These innovative efforts respond to the urgent need to mobilize additional financial resources to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to bridge the estimated US$420 billion annual financing gap for gender equality across developing countries.
Acknowledging the evolving nature of sustainable finance, this compendium presents best practices and
lessons in key areas:
I. Raising awareness and enabling environments: Working with government entities, knowledge partners and financial authorities, UN Women fosters awareness and creates environments conducive to gender-focused financing.
II. Stakeholder dialogue platforms: Stakeholders exchange knowledge and cross-fertilize innovations in the gender-responsive finance ecosystem through collaborative forums.
III. Standards and accountability in sustainable finance: Collaborating with standard-setting organizations,
UN Women advances clarity and accountability in gender-responsive finance standards, frameworks and toolkits.
IV. Showcasing innovative finance instruments: To demonstrate proof of concept, UN Women introduces countries and markets to impactful, gender-focused financial tools and approaches, in partnership with governments, corporations and financial institutions.
Lead Writer: Tabia Kazembe and Qing Xu
Source: UN Women
